BigBasket Outlet in Pune Shut, FDA Suspends Licence Over Expired Food, Pest Activity
FDA Maharashtra has suspended the food licence and operations of a BigBasket outlet on Karve Road in Pune after an inspection found expired and damaged products, pest activity and lapses in storage and temperature control.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence and operations of a BigBasket outlet on Karve Road, opposite Sahyadri Hospital in Sadashiv Peth, after an inspection reportedly found expired and damaged food products, pest activity, improper storage and segregation, and lapses in temperature control. The outlet is operated by Innovative Retail Concepts Private Limited, the company behind the BigBasket brand, and the FDA ordered the immediate suspension of its operations, citing the seriousness of the lapses and the need to protect consumers.
According to a report, the inspection was carried out on September 21. A hearing was held the next day, and the suspension order was issued on September 22.
Violations Found During The Inspection
Officials recorded multiple safety violations at the facility. Expired and damaged products were found on the premises, along with signs of pest activity, which raised concerns about how food was being handled and stored. Food items were also not stored or segregated properly, a lapse that can lead to contamination in a retail and storage facility. Maharashtra FDA Chief Tukaram Mundhe Warns Stars That Influence Is Not Legal Immunity.
The violations were recorded under the food safety requirements prescribed in Schedule IV of the applicable regulations.
Temperature Control And Cold-Chain Lapses
The FDA also found deficiencies in temperature control and cold-chain management. These matter most for perishables such as dairy, meat and frozen foods, where the required temperature helps prevent spoilage and microbial growth.
The outlet reportedly operates across several food-business activities, including retail, storage, cold and refrigerated storage, distribution and wholesale. That makes inventory management, pest control and temperature monitoring especially important. Why Tukaram Mundhe-Led Maharashtra FDA Suspended Licence of Bandra's Dreamer Hospitality.
Part Of A Wider FDA Crackdown
The action comes as Maharashtra's food safety regulator continues a broader crackdown on food businesses across the state. In recent months, inspections have covered restaurants, hotels, bakeries, clubs, warehouses and quick-commerce facilities, with action taken over expired food, poor storage, pest infestations and suspected adulteration.
The Pune division has been a particular focus of the drive, and earlier inspections in the city have also led to food licences being suspended over hygiene and food-safety violations at several establishments.
What It Means For Consumers
The case points to an issue that often goes unnoticed when buying groceries online or from large retail outlets: food safety does not end at the manufacturing stage. Storage temperature, shelf-life checks, pest control and handling practices can all affect a product before it reaches a customer's kitchen.
The FDA has said its enforcement is aimed at ensuring food businesses comply with prescribed safety and hygiene standards, and that establishments found storing or selling unsafe, expired or adulterated food can face regulatory action.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2026 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).